NUT stands firm over proposed school strike action

Thousands of schools are to be paralysed by strikes after teachers vowed to
press ahead with plans to walk-out over pay and pensions – a day after the
Government refused to back down over their demands.

The National Union of Teachers is preparing to take strike action in a row over pay and pensions.Photo: PA

Leaders of the National Union of Teachers insisted they would not “row back” from their proposed industrial action in the face of a bitter standoff with the Coalition.

As the NUT kick-started its annual conference in Liverpool today, it emerged that the union would seek a “ringing endorsement” of its position from rank-and-file members before launching action later this year.

The NUT and NASUWT are planning to take joint strike action in late summer and into autumn amid an ongoing protest over changes to pensions, rising workload and the introduction of a system of performance-related pay.

They wrote to Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, asking him to chair talks on the issue and demanding the suspension of his plans to reform the pay system.

But on Thursday, he wrote to both unions to announce that the "direction of travel" on both of their key issues was "fixed".

The stalemate puts the NUT on a collision course with the Government, with more than 20,000 schools across England and Wales set to be affected by walkouts over the next few months.

It is set to cause chaos for millions of working parents who will be forced to find emergency childcare.

Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: "We are not rowing back from our position. We have put forward these reasonable demands and we want to talk to him about them, not just have him send us a letter immediately before our conference.

"Negotiation is about sitting across the table having an exchange and listening to people."

She added: "What he's saying is pay and pensions are done and dusted, and there's no reason to talk about it. That's not our view."

The NUT and NASUWT announced last week a rolling programme of regional strikes, beginning in areas of the North West on June 27. Other English and Welsh regions will be covered in the autumn term before a national strike before Christmas.

In his letter to the unions, Mr Gove said: "While I am happy to discuss any issue you have, I shall stress in advance that on changes to teachers' pension and pay arrangements, the direction of travel is now fixed.

"In both cases, there has been full consultation with trade unions including the NASUWT and the NUT."

Delegates at the NUT's annual conference are expected to debate a priority motion on Saturday confirming the union's plan for industrial action with the NASUWT.

Miss Blower said: "While it is entirely possible for members to seek to amend the priority motion, the purpose of the motion is to go forward from conference with a ringing endorsement of the strategy with the NASUWT."

She also rounded on Mr Gove for previously calling his critics "enemies of promise".

"I think people were astonished when Michael Gove used the expression 'enemies of promise',” she said.

"It seemed to teachers whom I have talked to about it that he has no idea what goes on in schools up and down the country.

"If you've ever been into a primary or secondary school on a normal working day, you will find teachers working extremely hard, even in the face of Government interventions, and children being taught incredibly interesting and exciting lessons."

In her response to the letter, Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: "This is a serious situation which requires a more measured response than this display of arrogance and belligerence from the Secretary of State.

"As far as we are concerned we remain committed to engaging in genuine discussions and our original demands still remain on the table."